Hematology/Oncology Flashcards
What do you do next when diagnosing megaloblastic anemia by vitamin B12 deficiency?
Confirm the etiology before treatment (better route is intramuscular)
*Dietary absence (vegans), pregnancy, malabsorption syndrome, ileal or gastric resection, pernicious anemia
History suggestive of pernicious anemia. How do you confirm the diagnosis?
- Dyspepsia, autoimmune condition (ex, diabetes type 1), elderly
- Low B12 levels
- Confirm: Serum anti-intrinsic factor antibodies and anti-parietal cell antibodies
What is the therapy for Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)?
- Stop Heparin (Unfractionated or LMW)
- Continue anticoagulation with non-heparin medication (argatroban, fondaparinux)
*Lepirudin was discontinued
Most common cause of sepsis in sickle cell disease
Streptococcus pneumoniae→despite immunization, is due to non-vaccine serotypes
Tumors that cause approximately 75% of all malignant pleural effusions
Lung carcinoma, breast carcinoma and lymphoma
What is the cause of Febrile nonhemolytic transfusion reaction and how do you avoid it?
- Cytokine release from leukocytes within the donor blood product
- Leukoreduction of blood product
*Most common adverse transfusion reaction
Malignancies risks in a female patient with Lynch syndrome. Screening indication.
- Colorectal cancer➡colonoscopy every 1–2 years starting at 25 years
- Endometrial carcinoma➡annual endometrial biopsy beginning 30-35 years
- Ovarian cancer
*If childbearing is complete, prophylactic hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy is recommended at 40 or earlier
Mechanism of jaundice in Vitamin B12 deficiency
Ineffective erythropoiesis▶⬆immature erythrocyte megaloblasts in bone marrow➡⬆intramedullary hemolysis➡⬆Heme▶⬆indirect bilirubin
Most common complication of Hemophilia A treatment with recombinant factor VIII
Inhibitor development➡immune system recognizes factor as foreign▶antibodies ❌factor
*⬆Bleeding frequency or hemorrhage refractory to treatment, ⬆PTT
Treatment for inhibitor development in a patient with Hemophilia A
- Recombinant activated factor VII
- Activating prothrombin complex concentrates
Main manifestations of Von Hippel-Lindau disease
- Hemangioblastoma in the retina and cerebellum (cystic nodular pattern)
- Renal cell carcinoma (clear cell subtype, bilateral), preceded by multiple renal cysts (premalignant)
- Pheochromocytoma
*Autosomal dominant
Hallmark of Paget’s disease and underlying breast condition
- Painful, itching, eczematous, and/or ulcerating rash on the nipple that spreads to the areola
- Adenocarcinoma
How do you confirm the diagnosis of Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT)?
- Immunoassay➡⬆Titers
- Functional assay (Serotonin release assay) [Gold standard but less available]
Risk factors for splenic infarction
- Hypercoagulable disorder
- Source of embolic disease (atrial fibrillation)
- Myeloproliferative neoplasm
- Hemoglobinopathy (sickle cell disease)
Most common cause of megaloblastic anemia in chronic alcoholics
Folate deficiency
*Alcohol impair enterohepatic cycle and absorption of folate, may develop anemia in 5-10 wks (body stores are limited)
Effect of brussels sprouts, broccoli and green tea on warfarin
↓Effect→↑Thrombosis risk NO bleeding risk
Effect of acetaminophen on warfarin
↑Effect→↑Bleeding risk
Pathophysiology mechanism of Graft versus host disease
Activation of donor T-cells by recognition of host HLA-antigens▶cell-mediated immune response (Type IV hypersensitivity reaction)
Clinical presentation of chronic Graft versus host disease
- Sicca syndrome
- Chronic enteritis: Bloody diarrhea, Abdominal pain, Weight loss
- Hepatic dysfunction: jaundice
- Bronchiolitis obliterans: Chronic cough, Wheezing, Dyspnea
- Myasthenic symptoms
- Polymyositis
- Scleroderma-like and lichenoid skin changes
*> 100 days after transplantation
When can you use anti-D immune globulin on Immune thrombocytopenia?
First-line treatment along with IVIG and corticoids in children if bleeding, and adults if bleeding or platelets≤30.000/mm3, and if Rh-positive and coombs negative→saturate Fc receptors of macrophages within the reticuloendothelial system (RES)►limiting the RES to clear platelets
*Do not give in Rh-negative patients
Cause of hemarthrosis with normal coagulation times and platelets in a patient with a history of bariatric surgery or restricted food intake
Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy)
Giant cell tumor of bone clinical presentation
- Progressive knee pain + X-ray with eccentric lytic lesion (“soap bubbles”)
- Benign, locally destructive neoplasm at epiphysis of long bones (young adults)
Giant cell tumor of bone association and prognosis
- Associated with paget disease of bone
- It is benign but might have malignant transformation and pulmonary metastasis
Osteoid osteoma etiology and clinical presentation
- Benign bone tumor prostaglandin-producer▶Nocturnal pain relieved by NSAIDs
- X-ray: Small, round lucency
Clinical presentation of acute hemolytic transfusion reaction
- Onset in minutes to 24 hours of transfusion
- Fever, chills, hypotension
- Renal tubular cell injury (may progress acute renal failure)▶Hemoglobinuria (dark urine), flank pain
- Intravascular Hemolysis➡⬆LDH, ⬆Indirect bilirubin
- DIC➡oozing intravenous site
Diagnosis test for acute hemolytic transfusion reaction
Direct coombs test➡antibody-coated RBCs
Primary dose-limiting side effect of first-line treatment for Sickle cell anemia with recurrent vaso-occlusive crisis
Myelosuppression (neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia)
*Hydroxyurea➡⬆fetal hemoglobin➡⬇sickled hb➡⬇polymerization of RBC▶⬇vaso-occlusion episodes
Most common site of colon cancer metastasis
Liver
Musculoskeletal presentation of hereditary hemochromatosis
Arthralgia, arthropathy, chondrocalcinosis (Pseudogout)
How you may differentiate small cell carcinoma vs squamous cell carcinoma of the lung?
Paraneoplastic syndromes:
- Small CC: ⬆ACTH (Cushing sx), ⬆ADH (SIADH), ⬆Antibodies against presynaptic Ca+2 channels (Lambert-Eaton myasthenic sx)
- Squamous CC: ⬆PTHrP (hypercalcemia)
- Sca++mous
Best treatment for cancer-related anorexia/cachexia syndrome (CACS)
Progesterone analogs (megestrol acetate medroxyprogesterone acetate)>corticosteroids
Which test you should order in an adult patient with isolated thrombocytopenia (Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura)?
HIV and Hepatitis C➡most common secondary causes
*Initial presentation HIV up to 5-10%
Pathophysiology of Fanconi anemia
Autosomal recessive DNA repair defect, Bone-marrow failure
Clinical findings of Fanconi anemia
- Short stature
- Hypo or hyper-pigmented macula on trunk
- Genitourinary malformations
- Absence or hypoplastic thumb
- Polydactyly, flat thenar eminence
*Most common cause of congenital aplastic anemia
Two most common inherited thrombophilia in the caucasian population
- Factor V Leiden (Activated Protein C resistance)
2. Prothrombin mutation (⬆Prothrombin levels)
When do you study or test for hereditary thrombophilias?
- Young age (<45) with first time unprovoked DVT/PE
- Recurrent DVT/PE
- Unusual sited of thrombi (cerebral, mesentery, portal veins)
Treatment to reverse Warfarin toxicity bleeding
Prothrombin complex concentrate➡Vitamin K dependent coagulation factors (II, VII, IX, X, Protein C and S)
- Room temperature
- No transmit disease
- No excess volume
Hemoglobin electrophoresis pattern of Beta-thalassemia major
- HbA2 ⬆⬆ (2 alpha + 2 delta)
- HbF ⬆⬆ (2 alpha + 2 gamma)
- Mutation in both beta-globin genes
- HbS absent, HbA absent
Treatment of Beta-thalassemia major
Transfusion-dependent➡⬆Risk of iron overload➡Iron chelation therapy▶avoid damage on liver, kidneys, endocrine glands
Findings on laryngoscopy of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma in a patient with hoarseness
Fungating, irregular white/red mass on vocal cord with/without blood crusting (ulcer)
When do you suspect carcinoid syndrome?
Intermittent diarrhea + episodic flushing (85%) + cutaneous telangiectasias + bronchoespasm (wheezing) + cardiac abnormalities (right heart HF, tricuspid regurgitation)
Best initial diagnostic test for carcinoid syndrome
Urinary 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA)
*Degradation product of Serotonin
Treatment for carcinoid syndrome
Octreotide
Most common benign cystic mass/tumor in the middle mediastinum
Bronchogenic cyst
Electrolyte abnormalities in Tumor lysis syndrome and their consequences
- ↑Phosphorus
- ↑Potassium→cardiac arrhythmia
- ↑Uric acid→uric acid stones + AKI
- ↓Calcium→calcium-phosphate stones + AKI
*Hypocalcemia is due to Hyperphosphatemia→↑calcium-phosphate precipitation (binding in the renal tubules)
What is the Her2/neu test and why is it done in breast cancer?
- Abnormal estrogen receptor
- Positive➡anti-Her2/neu antibodies➡Trastuzumab▶⬇risk of recurrence and ⬆survival
Which is the hormonal manipulation or treatment for breast cancer? when are they indicated?
- Tamoxifen or Raloxifene: premenopausal
- Aromatase inhibitors (anastrozole, letrozole, exemestane): postmenopausal, slight superior in efficacy
- All Estrogen or Progesterone Receptor patients: prevent recurrences
Most important adverse effects of tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors
- Tamoxifen➡Endometrial cancer and clots
- Aromatase inhibitor➡Osteoporosis
Available hormonal therapy in prostate cancer and for what is it used?
- Flutamide, GNRH agonists, ketoconazole, orchiectomy➡help control the size and progression of metastases
- Do not prevent recurrences; Do shrink lesions
Difference in the treatment of seminoma and non-seminoma testicular cancer
- Seminomas: sensitive to chemotherapy and radiation
- Non-seminomas: sensitive to chemotherapy